WO2015141151A1 - Solution for forming function layer contained in organic light emitting element and method for manufacturing organic light emitting element - Google Patents

Abstract

This solution contains a solvent and a functional material that constitutes a function layer. The solvent contains a high-boiling-point solvent that is composed of one or more solvent components having a boiling point of 200°C or more. The high-boiling-point solvent has a viscosity of from 13 mPa·s to 25 mPa·s (inclusive) and a surface tension of from 33 mN/m to 37 mN/m (inclusive).

Description

Solution for forming functional layer contained in organic light emitting device, and method for manufacturing organic light emitting device

The present invention relates to physical properties of a solution for forming a functional layer included in an organic light emitting device.

In recent years, research and development of organic light-emitting elements has progressed. An organic light-emitting element is a light-emitting element using an electroluminescence phenomenon of an organic material, and includes a pair of electrodes composed of an anode and a cathode, and a light-emitting layer sandwiched between the electrodes. In addition, for example, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, or a hole injection / transport layer is interposed between the anode and the light emitting layer, and between the cathode and the light emitting layer, if necessary. An electron injection layer, an electron transport layer, or an electron injection / transport layer is interposed. The light emitting layer, hole injection layer, hole transport layer, hole injection / transport layer, electron injection layer, electron transport layer, and electron injection / transport layer each perform their own functions such as light emission, charge injection and transport. These layers are collectively referred to as “functional layers”.

In an organic display device for full color display, such organic light emitting elements correspond to RGB sub-pixels, and adjacent RGB sub-pixels are combined to form one pixel, and the pixels are arranged in a matrix. An image display area is formed.

In such an organic display device, in order to obtain a high-definition image, the length of one side of each pixel is required to be formed with a minute size of about 500 μm or less. When the pixel size is small as described above, the thickness of the functional layer in each element needs to be set as thin as several tens to several hundreds nm.

And when manufacturing an organic display device, there is a step of forming a functional layer above the electrodes. In this process, a wet method has been proposed in which a functional layer is formed by applying a solution containing a functional material and a solvent over an electrode and drying the applied solution.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-23668 Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-163488

Incidentally, since the light emitting characteristics of the organic light emitting element are sensitive to the film thickness of the functional layer, it is required to form the functional layer flat when the functional layer is formed by a wet method. However, when the functional layer is formed by the wet method, the film thickness at the end of the functional layer becomes thicker than the film thickness at the central part, or the film thickness at the end of the functional layer becomes thinner than the film thickness at the central part. In some cases, it is difficult to ensure the flatness of the functional layer.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a solution capable of reducing a difference in film thickness between an end portion and a central portion of a functional layer, and a method for manufacturing an organic light emitting element.

The solution according to one embodiment of the present invention is a solution for forming a functional layer included in the organic light emitting element. The solution includes a functional material constituting the functional layer and a solvent. The solvent includes a high boiling point solvent composed of one or more solvent components having a boiling point of 200 ° C. or higher. The high boiling point solvent has a viscosity of 13 mPa · s to 25 mPa · s and a surface tension of 33 mN / m to 37 mN / m.

When the viscosity and surface tension of the high boiling point solvent in the solution are within the above ranges, the difference in film thickness between the end and the center of the functional layer can be reduced.

(A)-(c) is a schematic diagram showing a drying process of a solution when a functional layer is formed by a wet method. Diagram showing boiling point, vapor pressure, viscosity and surface tension of each solvent component (A) is a plan view of the substrate used in the experiment, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA. (A) is a schematic diagram when the shape of the functional layer is flat, (b) is a schematic diagram when the shape of the functional layer is convex, and (c) is a diagram when the shape of the functional layer is concave. Pattern diagram The figure which shows an example of the photograph of the functional layer formed using each solvent, and the evaluation result of the shape of the functional layer Figure showing the results of evaluating the shape of the functional layer, the viscosity of the high boiling point solvent in the solution, and the surface tension of the high boiling point solvent in the solution A graph plotting the viscosity of the high boiling point solvent and the surface tension of the high boiling point solvent for each solvent The figure which shows the plane shape and cross-sectional shape of the functional layer for every solvent A graph plotting the ratio of the high-viscosity solvent occupying the high-boiling solvent of each solvent and the flat area of the flat area in the light-emitting area Graph showing the dependence of functional material concentration in solution on solution viscosity FIGS. 4A to 4G are cross-sectional views for explaining a method for manufacturing an organic light-emitting element. The perspective view which shows an example of the shape of a partition layer The perspective view which shows another example of the shape of a partition layer (A)-(c) is a schematic diagram showing the drying process of the solution when the partition layer of FIG. 13 is used. Functional block diagram of organic display device A perspective view illustrating the appearance of an organic display device

<1> Background of Achievement of One Embodiment of the Invention FIG. 1 shows a drying process of a solution when a functional layer is formed by a wet method. The solution 13 includes a functional material constituting the functional layer and a solvent for dissolving or dispersing the functional material. The solution 13 is applied to the region partitioned by the partition wall 12 on the substrate 11 (FIG. 1A).

The applied solution 13 has a shape in which the central portion swells due to the surface tension of the solution 13. The solvent in the solution 13 gradually evaporates from the surface of the solution 13. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1A, the evaporation rate of the solvent at the end of the solution 13 is larger than the evaporation rate of the solvent at the center. This is because the evaporated solvent is difficult to escape over the central part and the vapor pressure of the solvent is easily maintained high, whereas the evaporated solvent easily escapes to the surroundings and tends to lower the solvent vapor pressure over the edge. Due to this difference in evaporation rate, a solution flow 14 is generated in the direction from the central portion to the end portion in the surface layer portion of the solution 13, and accordingly, in the deep layer portion of the solution 13, the solution flows in the direction from the end portion to the central portion. Stream 15 is generated. As the drying of the solution 13 proceeds, the amount of the solution 13 gradually decreases (FIG. 1B), and the concentration of the functional material increases accordingly. Eventually, all the solvent in the solution 13 evaporates to form the functional layer 16 made of a functional material (FIG. 1C).

The shape of the functional layer 16 is more dependent on the shape of the solution at the end (FIG. 1 (b)) and the behavior of the functional material in the solution than at the beginning of the drying process of the solution 13 (FIG. 1 (a)). Conceivable. The inventors appropriately set parameters that determine the shape of the solution 13 and the behavior of the functional material at the end of the drying process of the solution 13 in order to reduce the film thickness difference between the end and the center of the functional layer 16. I thought it should be adjusted. Furthermore, the inventors paid attention to the viscosity and surface tension of a high-boiling solvent having a boiling point of 200 ° C. or higher as these parameters. First, the high boiling point solvent is focused on because the physical properties of the solution 13 at the end of the drying process of the solution are considered to largely depend on the physical properties of the high boiling point solvent. For example, when the solution 13 includes a high-boiling solvent and a low-boiling solvent, the low-boiling solvent evaporates before the high-boiling solvent in the drying process of the solution 13, and a large amount of the high-boiling solvent remains at the end of the drying process of the solution 13. Will do. In addition, when the solution 13 includes a high boiling point solvent and does not include a low boiling point solvent, only the high boiling point solvent exists at the beginning and the end of the drying process of the solution 13. Therefore, when the solution 13 contains a high boiling point solvent, it can be said that the physical properties of the solution 13 at the end of the drying process of the solution 13 largely depend on the physical properties of the high boiling point solvent. The reason for focusing on viscosity and surface tension among the physical properties of high-boiling solvents is that viscosity affects the behavior of functional materials in solution, and surface tension is thought to affect the shape of the solution. is there.

The inventors selected one or a plurality of solvent components, and obtained a plurality of solvents by mixing the selected solvent components in one or a plurality of volume ratios. And the functional layer 16 was formed using each solvent, and the shape of each functional layer 16 was observed. As a result, it has been found that if the viscosity and surface tension of the high-boiling solvent contained in the solution are within a specific range, the film thickness difference between the end portion and the central portion of the functional layer 16 can be reduced.

<2> Outline of One Aspect of the Invention A solution according to one aspect of the present invention includes a functional material that constitutes a functional layer included in an organic light-emitting element, and a solvent. The solvent includes a high boiling point solvent composed of one or more solvent components having a boiling point of 200 ° C. or higher. The high boiling point solvent has a viscosity of 13 mPa · s to 25 mPa · s and a surface tension of 33 mN / m to 37 mN / m.

When the viscosity and surface tension of the high boiling point solvent in the solution are within the above ranges, the difference in film thickness between the end and the center of the functional layer can be reduced.

When the high boiling point solvent is composed of a plurality of solvent components, the viscosity of the high boiling point solvent was calculated by calculating the product of the volume ratio of the solvent component and the viscosity of the solvent component at room temperature for each solvent component. It is obtained by adding the product of each solvent component. Similarly, the surface tension of the high boiling point solvent is obtained by calculating the product of the volume ratio of the solvent component and the surface tension of the solvent component at room temperature for each solvent component, and adding the calculated product of each solvent component. It is done.

The viscosity of the high boiling point solvent may be greater than 15 mPa · s.

Further, at least one of the one or more solvent components constituting the high boiling point solvent is a high viscosity solvent having a viscosity of 20 mPa · s or more, and the proportion of the high viscosity solvent in the high boiling point solvent is 35 vol% or more. It is good as well. Thereby, the ratio of the flat area | region in a functional layer can be raised.

Further, the ratio of the high viscosity solvent to the high boiling point solvent may be 50 vol% or more. Thereby, the ratio of the flat area | region in a functional layer can be raised further.

Further, the solvent may further include a low boiling point solvent composed of one or a plurality of solvent components having a boiling point of less than 200 ° C., and the viscosity of the solution may be 5 mPa · s or more and 15 mPa · s or less. When applying a solution, the viscosity of the solution has an appropriate range from the viewpoint of ease of application. However, as described above, the viscosity of the high-boiling solvent is determined from the viewpoint of the flatness of the shape of the functional layer, and thus the viscosity of the solution may deviate from a range suitable for application. Therefore, the viscosity of the solution may be adjusted to an appropriate range by including a low boiling point solvent in the solution. By setting the viscosity of the solution to 5 mPa · s or more and 15 mPa · s or less, it can be suitably used for, for example, an inkjet coating method.

Further, one or more solvent components constituting the low boiling point solvent may have a boiling point higher than 160 ° C. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a part of the low boiling point solvent evaporates before application of the solution and the concentration of the solution and the solvent composition ratio change.

In addition, the solvent may further include a low-boiling solvent composed of one or more solvent components having a boiling point of less than 200 ° C., and the proportion of the high-boiling solvent in the solvent may be 80% or less. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of a coffee stain phenomenon can be suppressed and a favorable film | membrane shape can be obtained.

Furthermore, the proportion of the high boiling point solvent in the solvent may be 60% or less.

The method for manufacturing an organic light-emitting element of one embodiment of the present invention functions by forming a first electrode, applying a solution containing a functional material and a solvent above the first electrode, and drying the applied solution. A functional layer made of a functional material is formed above the first electrode, and a second electrode is formed above the functional layer. Here, the solvent includes a high boiling point solvent composed of one or a plurality of solvent components having a boiling point of 200 ° C. or higher. The high boiling point solvent has a viscosity of 13 mPa · s to 25 mPa · s and a surface tension of 33 mN / m to 37 mN / m.

Thereby, the film thickness difference between the end portion and the central portion of the functional layer can be reduced, and as a result, good light emission characteristics of the organic light emitting device can be obtained.

<3> First embodiment (solution)
<3.1> Functional material The solution contains a functional material. The functional material is a material constituting the functional layer included in the organic light emitting element. As described above, the functional layer is, for example, a light emitting layer, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a hole injection / transport layer, an electron injection layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection / transport layer.

Examples of the material for the hole injection layer, the hole transport layer, and the hole injection / transport layer include triazole derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, polyarylalkane derivatives, pyrazoline derivatives and pyrazolone derivatives described in Patent Document 2, phenylenediamine Derivatives, arylamine derivatives, amino-substituted chalcone derivatives, oxazole derivatives, styrylanthracene derivatives, fluorenone derivatives, hydrazone derivatives, stilbene derivatives, polyphyrin compounds, aromatic tertiary amine compounds and styrylamine compounds, butadiene compounds, polystyrene derivatives, hydrazone derivatives , Triphenylmethane derivatives, and tetraphenylbenzine derivatives.

Examples of the material for the light emitting layer include the oxinoid compound, perylene compound, coumarin compound, azacoumarin compound, oxazole compound, oxadiazole compound, perinone compound, pyrrolopyrrole compound, naphthalene compound, anthracene compound, and fluorene compound described in Patent Document 2. , Fluoranthene compound, tetracene compound, pyrene compound, coronene compound, quinolone compound and azaquinolone compound, pyrazoline derivative and pyrazolone derivative, rhodamine compound, chrysene compound, phenanthrene compound, cyclopentadiene compound, stilbene compound, diphenylquinone compound, styryl compound, butadiene compound , Dicyanomethylenepyran compounds, dicyanomethylenethiopyran compounds, fluorescein compounds, pyrylium compounds Thiapyrylium compounds, serenapyrylium compounds, telluropyrylium compounds, aromatic aldadiene compounds, oligophenylene compounds, thioxanthene compounds, anthracene compounds, cyanine compounds, acridine compounds, metal complexes of 8-hydroxyquinoline compounds, metal complexes of 2-bipyridine compounds, Fluorescent materials such as Schiff salt and Group III metal complexes, oxine metal complexes, and rare earth complexes can be used.

Examples of the material for the electron injection layer, the electron transport layer, and the electron injection / transport layer include, for example, a nitro-substituted fluorenone derivative, a thiopyrandioxide derivative, a difequinone derivative, a perylenetetracarboxyl derivative, and an anthraquinodimethane derivative described in Patent Document 2. , Fluorenylidenemethane derivatives, anthrone derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, perinone derivatives, and quinoline complex derivatives can be used.

<3.2> Solvent The solution contains a solvent in addition to the functional material. The solvent includes a high boiling point solvent, and optionally includes a low boiling point solvent. In this specification, the boundary between the high boiling point and the low boiling point is set to 200 ° C. for convenience. The high boiling point solvent is composed of one or more solvent components having a boiling point of 200 ° C. or higher. The low boiling point solvent is composed of one or more solvent components having a boiling point of less than 200 ° C.

Furthermore, if necessary, at least one of one or a plurality of solvent components constituting the high boiling point solvent is used as a high viscosity solvent. In this specification, for the sake of convenience, the boundary between high viscosity and low viscosity is 20 mPa · s.

Examples of the solvent component include methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropyl alcohol, butanol, butanol, isobutyl alcohol, and sec-butyl alcohol. ), Tert-butyl alcohol (tert-Butyl Alcohol), ethylene glycol (Ethylene Glycol), 1,2-dimethoxyethane, diethyl ether (Diethyl Ether), diisopropyl ether (Diisopropyl Ether), acetic acid ( Acetic Acid, Ethyl 酢 酸 Acetate, Acetic anhydride (Acetic Anhydride), Tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-Dioxane, Acetone, Ethyl methyl ketone (Ethyl Methyl Ketone), Carbon tetrachloride, Chloroform Dichloromethane, 1,2-Dichloroethane, Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, Cyclohexane, Pentane, Hexane, Heptane (Hexane) Heptane), acetonitrile (Acetonitrile), nitromethane (Nitromethane), N, N-dimethylformamide (N, N-Dimethylformamide), hexamethylphosphoric triamide, triethylamine, pyridine (Pyridine), dimethyl sulfoxide ( Dimethyl Sulfoxide), Carbon disulfide, 1,3-Dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone, Dipropylene グ リ コ ー ル Glycol, Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether ether), ethylene glycol Monoethyl ether acetate (Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate), propylene glycol (Propylene Glycol), 2,3-butanediol (2,3-Butanediol), cyclohexanol, Cyclohexylbenzene, ethylene glycol monophenyl Ether (Ethylene Glycol Monophenyl Ether) and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether) can be used.

<3.3> Experiment and Discussion First, an experiment for obtaining the physical properties of a solvent for reducing the difference in film thickness between the end and the center of the functional layer will be described.

The inventors prepared the solvent shown in FIG. 2 as the solvent component. FIG. 2 shows the boiling point, vapor pressure, viscosity, and surface tension of each solvent component. The inventors select one or a plurality of solvent components from among these solvent components, and mix the selected solvent components at an appropriate volume ratio, so that the solvents A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H were obtained.

The inventors formed a functional layer on the substrate using the obtained solvents A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H. The functional material constituting the functional layer is common to each solvent. FIG. 3A shows a plan view of the substrate used in the experiment, and FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA. The partition wall 12 surrounds a region where the functional layer of the glass substrate 11 is formed. The width in the longitudinal direction of the region partitioned by the partition 12 is about 254 μm, and the width in the short direction is about 60 μm. In this experiment, the target film thickness of the functional layer 16 is set to 30 nm.

The inventors further classified the shape of the formed functional layer into “flat”, “convex” or “concave”. A method for classifying the shape of the functional layer will be described with reference to FIG. 4A shows flatness, FIG. 4B shows a convex shape, and FIG. 4C shows a concave shape.

As shown in FIG. 4A, since the inner peripheral surface of the partition wall 12 is an inclined surface, both longitudinal sides of the functional layer 16 ride on the partition wall 12. Here, the position where the height of the upper surface of the functional layer 16 from the substrate 11 is 200 nm is defined as the reference position. In the cross section of FIG. 4A, there are two reference positions. The region sandwiched between these reference positions is defined as the light emitting region of the functional layer 16. The position of the center of the light emitting region of the functional layer 16 is defined as the central portion C of the functional layer 16. Further, the positions near the central portion C by 12.5% of the width of the light emitting region of the functional layer 16 from the respective reference positions are defined as the end portion L and the end portion R of the functional layer 16, respectively. Then, the thickness of the central portion C of the functional layer 16 is d _C , the thickness of the end portion L is d _L , and the thickness of the end portion R is d _R. Δd is calculated using the following formula, and the shape of the functional layer 16 is classified using the film thickness difference Δd.

Δd = (d _L + d _R ) / 2−d _C
“Flat” means that the absolute value of the film thickness difference Δd is 20% or less of the film thickness d _C of the central portion C.

The “convex shape” is a case where the absolute value of the film thickness difference Δd is larger than 20% of the film thickness d _C of the central portion C and the film thickness difference Δd is negative.

The “concave shape” is a case where the absolute value of the film thickness difference Δd is larger than 20% of the film thickness d _C of the central portion C and the film thickness difference Δd is positive.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a photograph of a functional layer formed using each solvent and an evaluation result of the shape of the functional layer. Thereby, even if a functional material is common, if a solvent differs, it turns out that the shape of a functional layer differs.

FIG. 6 shows the evaluation results of the shape of the functional layer, the viscosity of the high boiling point solvent in the solution, and the surface tension of the high boiling point solvent in the solution. FIG. 7 shows the viscosity of the high boiling point solvent and the high boiling point solvent in each solvent. The graph which plotted surface tension is shown.

In FIG. 7, when focusing on the group containing the solvents A and B and the group containing the solvents C and E, when the viscosity of the high-boiling solvent is substantially the same, the surface becomes convex as the surface tension of the high-boiling solvent increases. It can be seen that the surface tension of the film becomes concave as the surface tension decreases. Further, in FIG. 7, when attention is paid to the group including the solvents C and E and the group including the solvents D, F, and G, when the surface tension of the high boiling point solvent is substantially the same, the tendency of flattening as the viscosity of the high boiling point solvent increases. Can be read. From this, it can be said that in order to make the shape of the functional layer flat, it is important to adjust the viscosity and the surface tension of the high boiling point solvent in the solution to an appropriate range.

In this experiment, it was found that when a group containing solvents D, F, and G was used, the shape of the functional layer became flat. From this, in order to flatten the shape of the functional layer, the viscosity of the high boiling point solvent in the solution is 13 mPa · s to 25 mPa · s, and the surface tension of the high boiling point solvent in the solution is 33 mN / m to 37 mN / s. It can be seen that it should be less than m. Further, since the higher the boiling point of the solvent, the higher the tendency of the flattening, the more preferable the viscosity of the high boiling point solvent in the solution is greater than 15 mPa · s. Further, the lower limit of the surface tension range of the high boiling point solvent in the solution may be 34 mN / m instead of 33 mN / m. The upper limit of the surface tension range of the high-boiling solvent in the solution may be 36 mN / m instead of 37 mN / m. In addition, by setting the viscosity of the high boiling point solvent in the solution to 25 mPa · s or less, it can be suitably used for an ink jet method.

The inventors further formed a functional layer on a flat substrate having liquid repellency, and observed the shape of the formed functional layer. In the experiment, 10 drops of the solution were dropped on a substrate, the dropped solution was vacuum-dried, and the shape of the formed functional layer was measured by a laser microscope (VK-9700, Keyence). FIG. 8 shows the planar shape and cross-sectional shape of the functional layer for each solvent. The scale of the planar image is common to each solvent. The scale of the cross-sectional image is common to each solvent. According to this, the group including the solvents D, F, and G (the shape of the functional layer is flat in FIG. 7) and the group including the solvents A, B, C, and E (the shape of the functional layer is convex or concave in FIG. 7). It can be seen that the shape of the functional layer is different. In the group including the solvents D, F, and G, a so-called coffee stain phenomenon occurs, and in the group including the solvents A, B, C, and E, the coffee stain phenomenon does not occur. The cause of these differences is considered to be due to the proportion of the high boiling point solvent in the solvent. The proportion of the high boiling point solvent is 33% for solvent A, 33% for solvent B, 60% for solvent C, 100% for solvent D, 53% for solvent E, 83% for solvent F, and 83% for solvent G. . If the ratio of the high boiling point solvent is large, convection is likely to occur during the drying process of the solution, and as a result, the coffee stain phenomenon is considered to occur. In general, it is considered that a better film shape can be obtained when the coffee stain phenomenon does not occur. Accordingly, the viscosity and surface tension of the high-boiling solvent are about the same as those of the group containing the solvents D, F, and G (13 mPa · s to 25 mPa · s, 33 mN / m to 37 mN / m), and higher. It is preferable to lower the boiling point solvent ratio than the group containing the solvents D, F and G (80% or less). Furthermore, it may be lowered to the same level as the solvents A, B, C and E (60% or less). Thereby, a better film shape can be obtained. In addition, the ratio of the high boiling point solvent can be easily lowered by the addition of the low boiling point solvent.

Next, an experiment for determining the physical properties of the solvent for increasing the ratio of the flat region to the light emitting region of the functional layer will be described.

The inventors prepared a plurality of solvents, formed a functional layer using each solvent, and examined a ratio of a flat region in a light emitting region of the formed functional layer. Here, in the cross section of FIG. 3A, the flat region is the length of a region where the functional layer thickness falls within a range of ± 20% from the target film thickness (30 nm in this example).

FIG. 9 is a graph plotting the ratio of the high-viscosity solvent occupying the high boiling point solvent of each solvent and the flat area of the flat area occupying the light-emitting area. In the solvent group in which the proportion of the high-viscosity solvent is 0 vol%, the proportion of the flat region in the light emitting region is distributed in the range of 40% to 60%. In the solvent group in which the proportion of the high-viscosity solvent is around 35 vol%, the proportion of the flat region in the light emitting region is distributed in the range of 60% to 70%. In the solvent group in which the proportion of the high-viscosity solvent is 50 vol%, the proportion of the flat region in the light emitting region is distributed in the range of 75% to 85%. As described above, the solvent group in which the proportion of the high-viscosity solvent is around 35 vol% has a larger proportion of the flat region in the light emitting region than the solvent group in which the proportion of the high-viscosity solvent is 0 vol%. Further, in the solvent group in which the proportion of the high-viscosity solvent is 50 vol%, the proportion of the flat region in the light emitting region is further large, which is about 75% to 85%. Therefore, the flatness of the functional layer can be improved by setting the proportion of the high viscosity solvent in the high boiling point solvent to 35 vol% or more. Further, the ratio of the high viscosity solvent is more preferably 50 vol% or more.

Next, consider the molecular weight of functional materials. FIG. 10 shows the dependence of the concentration of the functional material in the solution on the viscosity of the solution. Four types of solutions with different functional materials were prepared using a common solvent, and the change in the viscosity of the solution when the concentration of the functional material in the solution was varied for each solution was measured. According to this, it turns out that the viscosity of a solution becomes large, so that the density | concentration of a functional material is large. In more detail, it can be seen that when the functional material is a low molecular material, the ratio of the change in the viscosity of the solution to the change in the concentration of the functional material is smaller than in the case of the high molecular material.

In the step of applying the solution onto the substrate and drying the applied solution to form the functional layer, the concentration of the functional material increases as the solvent evaporates during the drying of the solution. FIG. 10 shows that the viscosity of the solution increases as the concentration of the functional material increases in the course of drying the solution. When the viscosity of the solution is increased, the flow of the solution is weakened, and the influence on the behavior of the functional material is reduced. By the way, according to FIG. 10, when the functional material is a low molecular material, the ratio of the change in the viscosity of the solution with respect to the change in the concentration of the functional material is smaller than in the case of the high molecular material. For this reason, when the functional material is a polymer material, the flow of the solution tends to be weak, and the influence on the behavior of the functional material is small. On the other hand, when the functional material is a low molecular material, the flow of the solution is difficult to weaken, and the influence on the behavior of the functional material is great. In other words, it can be said that flattening the shape of the functional layer is difficult when the functional material is a high molecular material or a low molecular material, but is particularly difficult when the functional material is a low molecular material. Therefore, a solvent in which the viscosity and surface tension of the high-boiling solvent are set to appropriate ranges can be applied to the case where the functional material is a high molecular material or a low molecular material, but is particularly useful in the case of a low molecular material. It is. Note that in this specification, the low molecular weight material refers to a material for which the Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation does not hold. The molecular weight is several thousand or less.

<4> Second Embodiment (Method for Manufacturing Organic Light-Emitting Element)
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a method for manufacturing an organic light emitting device.

First, the substrate 101 is prepared, and the first electrode 102 is formed on the substrate 101 (FIG. 11A).

Next, the partition layer 103 is formed on the substrate 101 (FIG. 11B). The partition layer 103 is electrically insulating and has an opening above the first electrode 102. A portion around the opening of the partition layer 103 functions as a partition. FIG. 12 shows the shape of the partition wall layer 103.

Next, the solution 104 is applied to the region partitioned by the partition layer 103 above the first electrode. The solution 104 includes a functional material and a solvent. In this example, the functional material will be described as a material for forming the hole injection / transport layer. The solvent includes a high boiling point solvent composed of one or more solvent components having a boiling point of 200 ° C. or higher. The high boiling point solvent has a viscosity of 13 mPa · s to 25 mPa · s and a surface tension of 33 mN / m to 37 mN / m.

Next, the applied solution 104 is dried to form a hole injection / transport layer 105 above the first electrode 102 (FIG. 11D). Drying is performed at atmospheric pressure or in vacuum, with or without heating.

Next, the light emitting layer 106 is formed above the hole injection / transport layer 105 (FIG. 11E), and the electron injection / transport layer 107 is formed above the light emitting layer 106 (FIG. 11F). A second electrode 108 is formed above the injection / transport layer 107 (FIG. 11G).

Thereby, the difference in film thickness between the end portion and the central portion of the hole injection / transport layer 105 can be reduced, and as a result, good light emission characteristics of the organic light emitting device can be obtained.

In addition, the solvent may have other features disclosed in the first embodiment in addition to the above features. For example, the viscosity of the high boiling point solvent may be greater than 15 mPa · s. Further, the ratio of the high viscosity solvent to the high boiling point solvent may be 35 vol% or more, or 50 vol% or more.

The solvent may include a low boiling point solvent composed of one or a plurality of solvent components having a boiling point of less than 200 ° C., and the viscosity of the solution may be 5 mPa · s or more and 15 mPa · s or less. By setting the viscosity of the solution within this range, it can be suitably used for an ink jet method. One or more solvent components constituting the low boiling point solvent may all have a boiling point higher than 160 ° C. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a part of the low boiling point solvent evaporates before application of the solution and the concentration of the solution and the solvent composition ratio change.

In the above example, the hole injection / transport layer 105 is illustrated as a functional layer formed by application of a solution, but is not limited thereto. Instead of the hole injection / transport layer 105, the light emitting layer 106 or the electron injection / transport layer 107 may be formed by application of a solution. Or several of these functional layers may be formed by application | coating of the solution.

In the above example, the first electrode, the hole injection / transport layer, the light emitting layer, the electron injection / transport layer, and the second electrode are stacked, but the present invention is not limited to this.

In the above example, the partition wall layer 103 has the shape shown in FIG. 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a partition wall layer 203 having a shape shown in FIG. 13 may be used. The partition layer 203 includes a plurality of first banks 203a and a plurality of second banks 203b. The first bank 203a is along the longitudinal direction of the light emitting region. The second bank 203b exists between the adjacent first banks 203a and extends along the short direction of the light emitting region. The height of the second bank 203b is lower than the height of the first bank 203a.

FIG. 14 shows a drying process of the solution when the partition wall layer of FIG. 13 is used.

When the partition layer 203 is used, the solution 204 applied to a region partitioned by the partition layer 203 (hereinafter referred to as “partition region”) reaches the adjacent partition region beyond the second bank 203b (FIG. 14 (a)). In the process of drying the solution 204, the solution 204 is accommodated in the partition region (FIG. 14B), and after further drying, the functional layer 205 is formed in the partition region above the first electrode 102. Even when the partition wall layer 203 is used, the final stage of the drying process of the solution 204 (FIG. 14B) is the same situation as when the partition wall layer 103 is used. Therefore, even when the partition wall layer 203 is used, the same effect as when the partition wall layer 103 is used can be obtained.

<5> Third embodiment (organic display device)
Said organic light emitting element is applicable to an organic display apparatus. FIG. 15 shows functional blocks of the organic display device. FIG. 16 illustrates the appearance of the organic display device. The organic display device 20 includes an organic display panel 21 and a drive control unit 22 electrically connected thereto. The organic display panel 21 has the organic light emitting element shown in FIG. The drive control unit 22 includes a drive circuit 23 that applies a voltage between the first electrode 102 and the second electrode 108, and a control circuit 24 that controls the operation of the drive circuit 23.

One embodiment of the present invention can be used for, for example, an organic light-emitting element.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Substrate 12 Partition 13 Solution 16 Functional layer 20 Organic display device 21 Organic display panel 22 Drive controller 23 Drive circuit 24 Control circuit 101 Substrate 102 First electrode 103 Partition 103 Partition wall 104 Solution 105 Hole injection / transport layer 106 Light emitting layer 107 Electron injection / transport layer 108 Second electrode 203 Partition layer 203a Bank 203b Bank 204 Solution 205 Functional layer

Claims (16)

A solution for forming a functional layer included in an organic light-emitting device, comprising a functional material constituting the functional layer and a solvent, wherein the solvent has a boiling point of 200 ° C. or higher. A solution comprising a high-boiling solvent composed of components, wherein the high-boiling solvent has a viscosity of from 13 mPa · s to 25 mPa · s and a surface tension of from 33 mN / m to 37 mN / m. The solution according to claim 1, wherein the viscosity of the high boiling point solvent is greater than 15 mPa · s. At least one of the one or more solvent components constituting the high-boiling solvent is a high-viscosity solvent having a viscosity of 20 mPa · s or more, and the proportion of the high-viscosity solvent in the high-boiling solvent is 35 vol% or more. The solution according to claim 1, wherein The solution according to claim 3, wherein the ratio of the high-viscosity solvent to the high-boiling solvent is 50 vol% or more. 2. The solvent according to claim 1, further comprising a low-boiling solvent composed of one or more solvent components having a boiling point of less than 200 ° C., wherein the viscosity of the solution is 5 mPa · s or more and 15 mPa · s or less. The solution described. The solution according to claim 5, wherein each of the one or more solvent components constituting the low-boiling solvent has a boiling point higher than 160 ° C. 2. The solvent according to claim 1, further comprising a low-boiling solvent composed of one or a plurality of solvent components having a boiling point of less than 200 ° C., wherein the proportion of the high-boiling solvent in the solvent is 80% or less. The solution described. The solution according to claim 7, wherein the proportion of the high boiling point solvent in the solvent is 60% or less. Forming a first electrode;
A solution containing a functional material and a solvent is applied above the first electrode,
Forming a functional layer composed of the functional material above the first electrode by drying the applied solution;
Forming a second electrode above the functional layer;
The solvent includes a high boiling point solvent composed of one or a plurality of solvent components having a boiling point of 200 ° C. or higher, and the high boiling point solvent has a viscosity of 13 mPa · s to 25 mPa · s, and 33 mN / m to 37 mN. having a surface tension of / m or less,
Manufacturing method of organic light emitting element. The method for producing an organic light-emitting device according to claim 9, wherein the viscosity of the high boiling point solvent is greater than 15 mPa · s. At least one of the one or more solvent components constituting the high-boiling solvent is a high-viscosity solvent having a viscosity of 20 mPa · s or more, and the proportion of the high-viscosity solvent in the high-boiling solvent is 35 vol% or more. The manufacturing method of the organic light emitting element of Claim 9 which is. The method for producing an organic light-emitting element according to claim 11, wherein the proportion of the high-viscosity solvent in the high-boiling solvent is 50 vol% or more. 10. The solvent according to claim 9, wherein the solvent further includes a low boiling point solvent composed of one or more solvent components having a boiling point of less than 200 ° C., and the viscosity of the solution is 5 mPa · s or more and 15 mPa · s or less. The manufacturing method of the organic light emitting element of description. The method for producing an organic light-emitting element according to claim 13, wherein each of the one or more solvent components constituting the low-boiling solvent has a boiling point higher than 160 ° C. The solvent further includes a low-boiling solvent composed of one or more solvent components having a boiling point of less than 200 ° C., and the proportion of the high-boiling solvent in the solvent is 80% or less. The manufacturing method of the organic light emitting element of description. The method for producing an organic light-emitting element according to claim 15, wherein a ratio of the high boiling point solvent in the solvent is 60% or less.

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